Our Church of the Week has been chosen by Claire Walker, our Chief Executive, who had a fabulous time visiting it on Friday - the North Shields Baptist Church in Tyne and Wear. The North Shields Baptist Church was constructed in 1846 under the direction of the renowned local architect John Dobson, who designed an elegant sandstone building in the Romanesque style. The Church began as only one-room but during the 19th and 20th centuries various additions were made, including a hall, kitchen and toilet facilities to the rear. In recent years the North Shields Baptist Church has suffered from disrepair, and despite major refurbishments to all areas of the building taking place from 1999 onwards, in 2012 the Chapel remained at risk, with inadequate drains failing to keep water out and the mens toilet requiring urgent attention. As the Church reported to the National Churches Trust at the time: “It has been clear for some time that the drains are not able to cope with current demands. They have blocked three times in the last year. Our need for a proper accessible toilet has also been clear for some time. One of our own members is wheelchair bound and she cannot stay in the church if she is likely to need the toilet facilities. A recent concert by one of our choirs also highlighted the need for better toilet facilities, when queues grew embarrassingly long.” In response to this need, in 2012 the National Churches Trust supported North Shields Baptist Church with a £20,000 Community Grant towards a new mens toilet, a separate accessible toilet, and new drains to stop to water ingress. The North Shields Baptist Church is now a thriving community space thanks to its new accessible facilities (and a dry one, thanks to its new drains!). It hosts services morning and evening each Sunday, mid-week Bible study groups, and Church Members and Deacons Meetings. And it has become home to an endless list of community groups, including the Church Music Group, Young Peoples Music Session, In Accord Choir, Rainbows, Tynemouth Amateur Operatic Society, Kumon Study Centre, Nite Bite (free meals for the homeless), Mouths of the Tyne Choir, New to this Country Drop-in Centre, Library Club, and Look After Yourself fitness group. North Shields Minster Rev Liz Edwards said: “North Shields Baptist Church is not a big church and it’s not in a wealthy area but we are big enough to make a difference in the town. We have a welcoming congregation and a happy mix of people of all ages. We also run a weekly free meal service for those in great need and a drop-in for refugees and asylum seekers in the area. One aspect of our building was really letting us down though: the toilets. We had insufficient toilets for men and no real provision for disabled users. This is where the National Churches Trust turned up trumps! They offered us a grant that covered virtually all of the work, including architect’s fees. There was no way we could have got the work done ourselves but with the Trust’s help, the toilet area was transformed and we now have proper accessible facilities plus an extra men’s toilet. We can be properly welcoming for all who come through our doors now. A fantastic church, and one that deserves lots of praise for its exemplary engagement with its local community.
Posted on: Tue, 20 May 2014 13:39:45 +0000
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